Nonsinkable vessel



H. F. WAITZ.

NONSINKABLE VESSEL.

APPLICATION FILED IuLYIa, 1920.

1,428,461. PatentedSept. 5,1922.

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NoNslNkA'LE VESSEL. APPLICATION FILED IULYI3| |920.

Patented Sept. 5, 1922.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Snom/tto@ H. F. WAITZ.

NONSINKABLE VESSEL. APELICATION FILED JuLYls. 1920.

PatentedSeptf, 1922.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 3 Patented Sept H. F. WAITZ.

NONSINKABLE VESSEL.

APPLICATION FILED IULYIS. I92o.

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AP-PLlCAT'ON FILED IULYIS. 1920.

Patenasept. 5,122.

351g ,MA @www l Y 51 "NONSINKABLE vEssEL. 1,428,461.

l The invention has for Patented Sept. 5, 1922.

einen HENRY wif-lira, ernnw Yoan, n. r.

Nonsrn'nannn Application `1i1ed'fuly- 13,

To all whom-t may Concern.' .f

Be it knownithat It, HENRY F. Mirna citizen ofthe United States, and resident of New York, inthe county of New York and State ot' New- York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Nonsin'kable Vessels, of which the followingy is a specification;

The present inventionarelates to boats, more particularly `large vessels' of` thev steam ship type, which are employedior cargo and passenger carrying purposes;v my improvements, however, maybe embodied in boats oit'any variety whatsover; 4 j

l one of its numerous objects the provision otr an absolutely sate, nonsinkable cargo and passenger carrying Yvessel which. is ofi such novel construction as to be capable of sustaining a maximum oi damage and still' be maintained afloat, such as hull ruptures caused rby collisions with sunken rocks, icebergs or other floating ob@ jects. A further object ot my invention being to provide a vessel which cannot, in its entirety, be sunkl by either.' shellsv or torpedoes andwhich'might be rammed, or even cut in half', lwithout liability of having its halved vparts sink, their buoyancy being suchL as to maintain them afloat, lwhereby passengers couldremain on the severed parts until rescued and lcargovcould, to ai considerable extent, be salvaged. However, my principal object is to provide eiiectivemeans tor saving thelives off passengers in the eventy of the vessels sustaining any serious kdamage whileat sea. j

My invention embodies many novel features or general construction and a unique combination of parts assembled in novel correlation. f

Primarily I employ an inner or main` hull and an auxiliary outer yhull or protective shell therefor,'which lmay befremoved' and discarded'when seriously damaged; cushion orf shock absorbing means spacing said hull and shell, as' springs, cork oranalogous buoyant and 'elastic material, and means .tor detacliajbly .connecting said bodies;: also yielding coupling means interposedbetween laterallyregistered port holes ot theinner and outer hulls;

The inner or main'liull: is divided into a plurality ot compartments so constructed andv arrangedk that'l they may be maintained independently closed, water tightandfbuoyant vin rthel event ot injury to adjacent com 1920i i serial No. essere.

pertinents, doors and novel door closing means being lemployed for' keeping out water. f :The Vvesselis further provided ywith a plurality Aauxiliary spiral stairways enclosed in tubularair conducting passageways or vents having doorways fori ingress andegress oi passengers and doors which may be maintained either open or closed. I

:The several decks of the vessel are double walled and provided with hatchways and doors 4adapted to be closed, wherebyy the spaces hetweendecks may be el'ectually segf regated and maintained water tight in the event oil"` injury to adj accntparts ot the vessel.' The spacesbetween'decksmaybe subdivided intoA either cargo' carrying or passenger accommodating compartments or state rooms, the latterfbeing separated; by

means ot double `walled bulkheads having fillings of buoyant materialy and air spaces. I The vspace betweenthe longitudinal walls oteach deckis packedl andilled with'a multi`plicity-oi:'. rectilinear or other adaptably shapedi casings or` buoyant units containing respectively a `plurality of hollow air-containingrelatively small subunits which are j removable and interchangeable; partsot thebetween` deck spaces, lower hold and thefvessels bilgealso containing such units.

Other novel features of construction are hereinafter `fully describedvand claimed, andl` disclosedfin the example of my invention illustrated byk the accompanying drawings formingqpartof this speciiQatiOn, in which a Figure l is a longitudinal sectionalview` of .a y,vessel embodying my improvements. Fig. 2 is a sectional planview taken on the line 2-'2 offFig 1. Fig '3)l isa4 similar view taken on the line B-Bof Fig. l; yand Fig. 4 is a sectional planview taken on the line s-toi' Fig. l. :Fig 5 is` a. vertical sectional lviewtaken on thefline 5-5 ofFig. l.y Fig.

6 isa'n outside elevation of the stern of the ik vessel; and Figures 7, 8, 9, 10, ll and 12: are

fragmentary' crossesectionaln views illustrate ingy 'several means: for` vieldingly connecting the inner andy outer hull members `of thevessel; `13 is a cross section ot part of the .vesselfshowing aL construction whereinxthe vhull members. Figlis ya perspectiveview,

partly broken away, showing one `ot `,the

buoyant units and the correlation of its enclosed sub-units; and Fig. 17 is a longitudinal sectional view thereof'. Fig. 18 is a perspective view illustrating an example of a door adapted for closing the staterooms and means for locking and unlocking said door. Fig. 19 is a sectional plan view showing a means for simultaneously operating said locking means whereby they may be manipulated, in unison, from the engine room or other desirable location. Fig. 2O is a vertical sectional view of one of the stateroom doors taken on the line 20-20 of Fig'. 21. Fig. 21 is a cross section taken on the line 21-21 of 'Fig 13; and Fig. 22 is a vertical sectional view taken on thev line 22--22 of Fig. 20. Fig. 23 is a perspective view of an example cfa buoyant unit for spacing the hull members of the vessel; and Figures 24 and 25 are perspective views of the stateroom doors.

In the embodiment of my invention illustrated by the drawings, referring particularly to Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 13, 1 indicates the inner or mainhull and 2, the outer hull or protective shell of the vessel.-

l may employ any suitable number of double walled decks; in the example shown, 3 indicates the upper deck comprising the parallel longitudinal walls 4 and 5. 6 indicates the next lower deck comprising the walls 7 and 8; and 9 indicates a still lower deck comprising the walls 10 and 11.L These decks are respectively provided with hatchways 12 having normally closed and fastened upper doors 13 and lateral doors 14 through which the buoyant units, hereinafter described, may be passed.

The spaces 15, 16 and 17, between decks may be divided into any suitable number of compartments, depending upon whether they are to accommodate passengers or contain cargo.

An example of stateroom or passenger-accommodating construction is shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings, wherein I have illustrated a plurality of vari-sized compartments spaced apart by gangways 18 and partitioned by double walled bulkheads 19, which respectively contain a filling of ground cork or other adaptable buoyant material 20. v f

The space betweenl the longitudinal walls of each of the decks is filled or partly filled with a multiplicity of hollow air-containing buoyant units 21. which respectively comprise an outer casing or shell 22, see Figuresk 16 and v17 of the drawings, and a plurality of closely packed hollow sub-units 23 which are in dovetailed detachable connection with each other and with the outer casing 22, whereby in the event of one or more of them sustaining damage they may be readily removed and renewed. Said sub-units are divided into separate groups partitioned apart by means of a lateral plate 24 and a cork filling 25, said groups being maintained in rigid attachment by means of bolts and nuts 26 and 27. A longitudinal gangway 28 eX- tends throughout the length of the vessel and around the hatchways 12, whereby access to the buoyant units may be had through the lateral doorways 14 of the hatchways 12, for purposes of assembling, removing or replacing said units.

The between deck spaces 15, 16 and 17 are connected by means orn suitable stairways 29; and auxiliary spiral stairways 30 extend vertically through the structure and are encased in Lcylinders 31 which are suitably vented at the top and have lateral doors which open into the respective between deck spacesto permit of ventilation .or use of the stairways 30 when desirable.y

Beneath the flooring 33 of the-lower space 17 is the hold 34,.of the vessel adapted tor containing coal bunkers, engines, etc. rlhis hold is provided with a plurality of groups 36, comprising assemblages of buoyant units of the character, hereinabove described; the bilge beneath said hold also being provided with a filling of said buoyant unitswhich may be placed therein through the medium of doors 37 of the flooring 38 of the said hold.

The outer protective shell 2 oii the vessel may be either permanently fixed to the hull 1, or it maybe in removable engagement therewith; andtit may embody a suitable assemblage'of overlapped armor plates spaced by a cork filling as shown in Fig. 7, and it is spaced from the hull by any flexible means. as springs 39, yielding cross connections 40, or the rigidly attached yT-braces 41. I may also employ buoyant units of ground cork 42, see Fig. 23 of the drawings, encased in a wire mesh 43. As a means for introducing the parts for spacing theshell 2 from the hull 1` I provide suitable doorways through the hull 1 which are normally closed by doors 44, see Fig. 5 of the drawings.

The port holes of the vessel respectively comprise a hollow spherical member 45 and a socket 46. Said sockets being respectively provided with an inner cylindrical extension having a window 47, and an outer cylindrical extension 43 which is in yieldable connectionwith a cylindrical member 49 of the shell 2, whereby said shell may be disconnected if desired. `When this arrangement is used the shell 2 is suspended by means of strong spiralspringhangers 50, having each an upper rodmember 51 and a lower rod member 52, The rod 51 engages a hook 54 of a crank 53 which is held normally in position shown in Fig. 15 of the drawings, the lower rod 52y being fixed to a projection 55 of the shell 2. It for any reason it is desired to disconnect the shell 2 from the hull 1 it is simply necessary to swing the crank 53 upwardly untilits hoolr' 54 assumes a position with its bill extended downwardly whereby the weight ot the shell 2 causes it to drop away from the hull l. This action would only be resorted to in the event ot the shell being injured beyond repair to relieve the vessel of its weight. y

The doorsI 55 for closing thestaterooms open outwardly andare respectively twowalled, having beveled edges 56 for close fitting engagement with corresponding beveled bearing surfaces of the door trames,

whereby any rush oiwater from the outside would automatically close the doors.

As a means for locking the doors 55 in closedy position they are respectively provided 'with suitable spring-actuated boltmeans which are enclosed between their outer and inner walls and adapted to be operated, in unison, from the outside and individually from the inside.

In the example of bolt-means illustrated, see Figures 1'8 to 21 oit the drawings, 56 indicates a horizontal bolt which is in slidable engagement with fixed straps, 58 and 59 located between the two walls ot the door 55. Said bolt is provided with a xed, collar 60, and located between said collar and the strap 58 is a contractile spring 6l whose normal tendency is to maintain the end 62 of said bolt within the door. Vertically extended spring-actuated bolts 63 are also in slidable engagement between the door walls; these bolts bear at their respective inner ends on opposite surfaces of a cam 64C, termed integral with the bolt 56, and having a slot 57 which engages a lixed pin 58 to limit its sliding movement. The bolts 63 are respectively spring-aetuated by a contractile spring 65 whose normal tendency is to maintain its bolt 63 within the door whereby the door may be opened and closed at will.

s a means for shooting'the bolts 56 and 63 into their sockets 66, which are sell closing and are formed in the door frame, I provide a lever 67 which swings on a fixed pin 68, said lever 67 having an extensible member 69 which is in slidable engagement therewithby means oi a pin 70 which passes through a slot 7l of said lever to limit the movement of said extension; said lever being further provided with a right angle extension 72 for operating the bolt 56.

The lever 67 may be maintained in position for holding the bolts in locked position, shown in FigureslS and 20 of the drawings, by means of a cam lever 73, whereby a passenger may lock or unlock his door from the inside.

When it is desired to lock the door from a point remote therefrom the extension 69 is moved to the position shown in Fig. 18, whereby it is in the line of travel ot and may contact with arm 74 of a sliding rod 7 5 having arack 7 6 which. meshes with a pinion 77, et a shaft (8, which is rotated by means et a bevel gear wheel 79 inmesh with a similar bevel gear wheel 8O oi a shaft 81 which leads to the engine room, 'from where it may be rotated to simultaneously close the doors or a series ot doors in connection with said gearing, 'as shown by Fig. i9. The door may further be provided with a vertically slidable stop 82 of a hanger 83 carried by they door which v'contacts with the door iframe 7 to limit they distance whichthe door may be opened, said door having differential hinges Sli, 85 which cause the 'door to close by its own gravity or by` a slight pressure on its outside surface. In the event of the gangways being Hooded the weight ot" the iiowing water would close the doors immediately. When it is desired to ully open the door the stop 82 is moved downwardly within its hanger 83 sufficiently toallow it' to swing 8 past the-door frame.

When the door is locked by means of the arm Ti contacting with the extension 69 of the lever 67, and it is desired to open it from the inside, it is simply knecessary to slide the extension 69 downwardly away from contact with the `arm 7e and-allowthe springs Gland 65 movethe bolts 56, 63 inwardly and out of engagement with their sockets, the cam lever 73 being thrown out of engagement with the lever 67.

It is manifest that a boat ot the construction hereinabove described embodies many features ot saitety and utility. The outer cushioned shell acts to thoroughly protect the inner hull from ordinary damages by contact with iioating objects, and the buoj, ancy imparted by the large number of closely packed air-containing units admits of safely carrying a maximum of cargo and many passengers in perfect safety.

In the event of serious injury or" such nature as' to damage a number ot the air units enough adjacent units always remains to keep the vessel aiioat, and the novel construction and arrangement admits of segregation of the'undamaged parts to prevent the water from entering them.

The removable outer shell admits ot repairing the inner hull when the vessel is in dry dock, and it may alse be discarded at sea in the event ot its becoming so badly damaged as to become useless and a burden to the vessel.

I do not wish to vbe understood as contining myself to employment of the specific construction and arrangementk ci" partsv as hereinabove described, as I believe that I am entitled to employ variations which may rightfully tall under the spirit and scope of my invention.

I-Iaving thus described'my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

l. A. vessel comprising a hull, a protective shell, and means spacing said hull and shell, said vessel having a plurality of doublewalled buoyant unit containing decks, a plurality of double-walled buoyant unit containing compartments between decks, and said decks having hatchways leading therethrough which are provided with lateral doors and doorways 'for passage oi said units.

2. A vessel containing a hull, a protective shell spaced from said hull, a plurality of double walled buoyant unit containing decks, a plurality of buoyant units located between the walls of said decks, and said dec rs having hatchways leading therethrough which are provided with lateral doors and doorways for passage of said units.

3. A vessel comprising a hull, a protective shell spaced from said hull, and a plurality orp double-walled decks, and a plurality of compartments between said decks, and a plurality of buoyant units contained between the walls of said decks and within said conipartments, said vessel having a hold divided into buoyant unit-containing compartments, said decks having hatchways leading therethrough which are provided with lateral doors and doorways for passage of said units. n

e. A vessel comprising a hull, a protective shell spaced from said hull, a plurality or double-Walled buoyant unit containingdecks, and a plurality of buoyant unit containing compartments between decks said vessel having a hold containing a plurality of sets of buoyant units, and a bilge beneath hold and a plurality of buoyant units within vsaid bilge, and said decks having hatchways leading' therethrough which are provided with lateral doors and doorways for passage o' said units.

5. A vessel comprising a hull, a protective shell, and means spacing said hull and shell, said vessel having double-walled decks, and a plurality of buoyant units spacing said double-walled decks, said decks having hatchways leading therethrough which are provided with lateral doors and doorways for passage of said units, said units so assembled as to make gangways which lead to said lateral doorways.

Signed at New York, in the countyof New York and State of New York, this seventeenth day of June A. D. 1920.

n HENRY F. WAITZ. 

